The Green Bay Packers will be hosting the Detroit Lions in Week 1 of NFL action this season. It's a huge matchup between two divisional rivals with a ton of history and a lot of potential headed into the 2025 season. Green Bay is seeking to get over the Divisional Round hump, same as Detroit, and they have an extra playmaker in tow in the form of Matthew Golden to add to Jordan Love's arsenal.
This is going to be a fun season opener for both teams looking to get an early advantage in the NFC North. For Detroit, it's the start to a grueling road schedule that has them at the very top of schedule strength for road games this year. And, for Green Bay, it's the beginning of the start to their much easier schedule.
However, the Lions are still missing one player who would make this rivalry game even sweeter: pass rusher Za'Darius Smith, who you may or may not know absolutely despises the Packers.
Lions must re-sign Smith before they play Green Bay
Smith, who came over to Detroit last season via trade with the Cleveland Browns, helped to fortify a pass rush that was missing a huge punch in Aidan Hutchinson due to injury. However, he has yet to be re-signed by the Lions this offseason despite fans really clamoring to see him back alongside Hutchinson for 2025.
Smith also really, really hates the Packers. The former Green Bay player had told a reporter after Detroit beat Green Bay last season that his performance for the Lions - and previously for the Minnesota Vikings - came from a place of needing revenge against them.
"Two years I gave it to them, and once I got hurt, they sent me down like I wasn't nothing. But, I'm glad to be on the other side now. You know I had a chance to go to the Vikings and get my revenge. And I came to Detroit and got my revenge again," he said.
These are some really strong feelings from Smith, and they probably haven't gone away considering this was how he felt just last season. If given the opportunity, it feels obvious that he'd make it just as personal to help beat the Packers in Week 1 on the road. Dan Campbell and the Lions' front office have to pick up the phone and get this deal done ASAP.
